Halliburton's lost radioactive rod found

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The US oilfield services company Halliburton has found a seven-inch radioactive rod it lost in the Texas desert almost a month ago.

The company lost the rod, which contains americium-241/beryllium, during a 130-mile journey between oil well sites in Pecos and Odessa on 11 September.

A spokesman for Halliburton said the device was found late on Thursday night on a road about seven miles from the well site in Pecos, where the rod was last used.

Midland County sheriff Gary Painter said an oilfield pumper recognised the device from fliers that had been handed out in the area.

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This happens occasionally. The article didn't explain it but I'm sure this is similar to a closed source for doing industrial x-ray. IOW the radiation is sealed until the device's "window" is opened for brief periods of time during an exposure for filming or some other use. Not a great thing to be misplacing but also not the end of the world.

[Ashotep]

How do you lose something like that?

[supervike]

In other news, a horde of gigantic, fire breathing armadillo have moved into the San Antonio area.

[None of the above]

This happens occasionally. The article didn't explain it but I'm sure this is similar to a closed source for doing industrial x-ray. IOW the radiation is sealed until the device's "window" is opened for brief periods of time during an exposure for filming or some other use. Not a great thing to be misplacing but also not the end of the world.

Well it couldn't be 'the end of the world' could it AT...

I mean, there were no Muslims involved at all!

(only teasing)

Edited October 8, 2012 by Atlantia

[+and-then]

How do you lose something like that?

It's exactly because they aren't so dangerous that people get a little casual handling them. They usually are in a bright red or yellow box with a "radiation" symbol decal. Think of it as a "x-ray gun" but until the trigger is pulled ( the window is opened) it's completely harmless. They get placed on the back of trucks sometimes just like any other tool being used and they fall off.....